Attachment for writing implements



y 31, 1955 A. L. APPEL ATTACHMENT FOR WRITING IMPLEMENTS Filed Sept. '7, 1954 /A/l/EA/TO/?-' ANDREW HPPEL .H/S ATTORNEY ATTACHMENT FOR ING IMPLEMENTS Andrew L. Appel, St. Louis, Mo. Application September 7, 1954-, Serial No. 454,453

6 Claims. (Cl. 120-103) The present invention relates to a novel device for use with writing implements. It is primarily designed for use with pencils. However as will appear, the present invention is also adapted for use with pens, crayons, markers, and so on.

It is well known that persons who in the course of their customary employment are required to perform considerable pencil work, are plagued by callouses that develop in the region of the first knuckle of the middle finger. Such callouses, having once been formed, are a source of constant irritation and discomfiture, frequently resulting in a below-standard caliber of efiiciency on the part of the person manipulating the pencil, as is understood.

The primary object of the present invention therefore, is to provide a simple device that may readily be attached to a pencil or similar writing implement, and is adapted to prevent the formation of a callous on the middle finger, or in the event a callous had already developed, to alleviate any further irritation thereof.

It is also well known that many individuals who perform considerable pencil work, are prone to exert far more pressure than necessary against the pencil by the forefinger during writing operations. In consequence of such pressing for at times extended intervals, the forefinger of the Writer becomes numb. Soreness and numbness of the thumb may also develop concurrently.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means adapted to obviate the development of numbness and soreness in the forefinger and thumb of the writer, even though pencil manipulations may be so to speak, continuous throughout extended periods of time.

Although the number of left-handed persons is rather small in comparison with the number who are righthanded, it is another object of this invention to provide a device that may be easily and quickly adjusted for use on either hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that admits of ready adjustment for the accommodation of variously proportioned forefingers of human beings, it being noted at this point, that when in normal use, the device is supported on the index finger, or as more commonly termed, the forefinger of the user.

Among the features inherent in the invention, one is the ability of the user to perform other duties such as for example answering the telephone, without removing the device from its normal position on the forefinger of the users hand.

Another feature is that when, with the pencil-holding device of the invention removed from the forefinger, the pencil is deposited on a desk, table, or the like, said pencil cannot roll off, even though the surface Whereon it is placed is disposed in an inclined plane.

A further feature of this invention resides in its efiicient employment for a non-writing operation. Thus, with the device attached to a pencil, the pencil may be held at the non-pointed end and the device may serve as a sheet or 2,79,419 Patented May 31, 1955 ice page flipper. The device may also serve in a page-flipping capacity when in position on the forefinger.

The invention also serves to facilitate writing operations when the pencil has become shortened following repeated sharpenings thereof. And, once mounted on a pencil, the device need not be removed therefrom when the pencil requires sharpening.

The invention contemplates manufacture thereof in sizes for children as well as for adults. Therefore, with respect to the smaller size, it is an object of the invention to provide a device that may serve in teaching a child not only to hold a pencil properly and effortlessly, but also in teaching the child the art of hand-writing.

In its preferred form, the attachment comprising the present invention is composed of but two elements, namely: a thin metallic plate in the form of a stamping, and a sleeve of yieldable material, preferably sponge rubber. The stamping is bent and fashioned so as to include integrally: a fingerpiece segment that may be manually adjusted to the contour of a forefinger; a tubular segment that is split longitudinally of its periphery; and a loop segment connecting one end portion of the fingerpiece segment and one end portion of the tubular segment. The external diameter of the tubular segment is minutely larger than the internal diameter of the resilient sleeve member, and the loop segment is relatively narrow so that the fingerpiece may, so to speak, have lateral movements relatively to the tubular segment with the loop serving in a pivotal capacity. In the assembled device, the resilient sleeve surrounds the longitudinally split tubular segment aforesaid, and because of the diameter dimensions set forth above, said segment is constricted slightly, so that the edges of the split are contiguously disposed. Thus as will be apparent, the tubular segment is tenaciously retained in the sleeve member, whereby the two elements that form the attachment are combined into a unitary device adapted to slidably grip the body of a writing implement, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, together with'two slight modifications thereof, have been illustrated on a sheet of drawings that accompanies this specification. A more comprehensive understanding of the invention and its advantages may be had from the detailed description thereof to follow with reference to said drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of a stamping or blank from which the metallic element of the device is fashioned;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the resilient sleeve element of the device;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the blank of Figure 1 fashioned into the configuration taught by the present invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the assembled device, demonstrating the attached disposition thereof on a pencil;

Figure 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 66 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale, demonstrating the device in position on a pencil with the fingerpiece swung laterally for the accommodation of the forefinger of a right hand;

Figure 8 is a similar view illustrating the fingerpiece swung laterally for the accommodation of the forefinger of a left hand;

Figure 9 is a reduced scale view demonstrating the principal use of the invention;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a stamping or blank from which a modified metallic element may be fashioncd;

, Figure ll is a side elevational view of an assembly incorporating the blank of Figure 10 after it has been fashioned into the configuration taught by the instant invention;

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a stamping or blank that is generally similar to the blank depicted in Figure 1, but is designed to provide another slightly modified form of the invention; and

Figure 13 is a side elevational view of an assembly incorporating the blank of Figure 12 after it has been fashioned into the configuration taught by the present invention. The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Figures 1 through 9, and is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 29. This embodiment is comprised of the metallic element most clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 that is generally designated by the numeral 22, and the sponge rubber sleeve portrayed in Figure 2 that is designated by the numeral 24.

As clearly apparent from the drawings, the element 22 is so fashioned from the blank of Figure l as to provide integrally a fingerpiece segment 26, a tubular segment 2%, and a reversely bent or loop segment 3%). Preferably but not necessarily, the tubular segment 28 has formed therein a plurality of apertures 32 designed to provide greater flexibility for the inherent resiliency of said segment, it being here noted that the element 22 is made of light weight aluminum, brass, or other material that lends itself readily to deformation, but at the same time, is characterized by resilient tendencies, as is understood. In the interest of clarity, the portions of the blank appearing in Figure 1 that are fashioned into the recited segments of the element 22, are indicated in said view by means of the same reference numerals, and the formation of the element 22 from the blank is believed to be manifest without a detailed explanation. it is to be observed however, that in fashioning the tubular segment 28, the marginal edges 34 thereof define a longitudinal slot or split 3-3 extending from end to end of said segment, but that when this tubular segment is pressed into the longitudinal bore 38 of the sleeve 24, the splitdefining edges are brought into contiguity.

The sleeve 24, as has been intimated, is preferably formed of sponge rubber material. it could also be made of felt or the like material if desired. In order to accommodate angular adjustments of the fingerpiece 26 relatively to the tubular segment 28 as suggested by broken lines in Figure 5, the periphery of the sleeve 24 is skived or beveled as at 4d along one end thereof. Numeral l2 designates the longitudinal curvilinear slot produced in consequence of fashioning the tapered fingeri piece 26.

A slightly "toditied construction is presented in Figures l and ii, being generally designated by the numeral 12%. In this embodiment, the fingerpiece segment of the metallic element 122 is designated 1%, the tubular segment is designated 128, and the loop segment is designated 13%. The blank of Figure is fashioned similarly to that of Figure 1 so as to produce, in conjunction with the sleeve member 24, the device portrayed in Figure ll. it is to be observed that in this embodiment, the tubular member 123 is not apertured, it being understood that it could be, if desirable. The fingerpiece 126 is in all respects similar to the fingerpiece 26, except that it is formed to provide spaced arcuate band segments 150 for engaging portions of a forefinger. in the interest of clarity, the portions of the blank appearing in Figure 10 that are fashioned into the recited segments of the element 122, are indicated in said view by means of corresponding reference numerals.

Another slightly modified construction is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, being generally indicated 22%. In this form of the invention, the fingerpiece segment of the metallic element 222 is designated 226, and the tubular segmentis designated 223. Numeral- 230- designates the segment of the Figure 12 blank that corresponds to the loop segments 36 and 138. In this embodiment of. the invention however, the segment 230 has formed therein a pair of holes 240, and prior to the formation of the fingerpiece and tubular segments, said segment 230 is severed along the broken line a-u. Consequently as Figure 13 demonstrates, the fingerpiece 226 is provided with a perforated ear or extension 242, and the tubular cgment 228 is provided with a similar extension 244 bent to the configuration shown. Numeral 246 designates a rivet extending through the holes 246 of said extensions, whereby the fingerpiece may have lateral movements relatively to the tubular segment 22?.

Use

Although the manner in which a person would cmploy the invention is deemed to be obvious from the foregoing description and an inspection of the drawings, a brief explanation will be given. in the drawings, an exemplary writing implement in the form of a lead pencil P has been selected for illustrative purposes. The pencil P has a hexagonal cross-sectional contour, but it is to be understood that the pencil could just as well have a round or other cross-sectional contour.

Assuming that the assembled device 20 as it appears in Figure 5 were held in the left hand, the pointed end E of the pencil would be pushed into the free end of the tubular segment 28 with the right hand. As the body of the pencil enters and passes therethrough, the tubular segment 28 expands slightly as demonstrated in Figure 6, the resilient body of the sleeve 24 accommodating such expansion.

With the device thus attached, and assuming the person about to employ the pencil is right handed, he would insert his forefinger into the fingerpiece Z6, and grasping the sleeve 24 between the thumb and forefinger, he would first adjust said fingerpiece toward or away from the pencil as suggested by broken lines in Figure 5, whereupon he would swing the fingerpiece laterally to the position thereof shown in Figure 7. That is to say, he would manipulate the fingerpiece rightwardly until it occupied a position most comfortable for his forefinger. Thereupon, the width of the longitudinal slot 42 would be increased or decreased depending on the size of the forefinger, until a snug though not tight fit is had, as is understood. Now, positioning the pencil point against a surface, the device may be adjusted along the pencil body until it occupies the position best suited to the hand for writing operations. in such position as Figure 9 suggests, the thumb and middle finger do not engage the pencil, but are disposed against the resilient sleeve member 24, thus obviating the formation of callouses, and the development of soreness or nun'ioness.

With respect to the slightly modified embodiments of the invention, it is believed that the foregoing explanation augmented by the drawings should be adequate for an understanding of the manner wherein they may be utilized.

in order to sharpen the pencil, it is not necessary to remove the attachment. It is, merely required to move the attachment upwardly along the pencil body, perform the sharpening operation, and thereupon move the attachment downwardly again into proper position.

In order to employ the device in a page-flipping capacity, the attachment is moved to a position immediately adjacent the pointed end B, and with the pencil held at the opposite or eraser end, the resilient sleeve 24 is brought into engagement with successive pages, and in the same motion, the pencil is fiicked in the direction adapted to turn over the pages. If desired, as noted hereinbefore, page-flipping operations may also be accomplished with the device in position on a forefinger.-

It is to beunderstood that the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described are susceptible of variations without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character and for the purpose described including in combination: a resilient writing implement retainer tube; a tapered fingerpiece manipulable to conform the contour thereof to the configuration of the forefinger of a human hand; a flexible connection between one end of the fingerpiece and one end of said tube; and a sleeve of yieldable material surrounding the tube.

2. A device of the character and for the purpose described including in combination: a resilient writing implement retainer tube; a tapered fingerpiece manipulable to conform the contour thereof to the configuration of the forefinger of a human hand; a flexible connection between one end of the fingerpiece and one end of said tube; and a sleeve of yieldable material surrounding the tube; the fingerpiece, tube, and connection aforesaid being fashioned from a single stamping or blank of thin metallic material.

3. The device set forth in claim 2, wherein the recited retainer tube is split longitudinally, and has formed therein a plurality of apertures.

4. A device adapted for ready attachment to a writing implement, said device including in combination: a resilient split tubular member adapted to receive and removably retain said implement in a selected position therein; a sleeve of yieldable material surrounding and tenaciously maintained in position on the tubular member; a tapered fingerpiece adapted to receive, and to be manipulated into a configuration corresponding to, the forefinger of a hand; and a flexible connection between one end portion of said fingerpiece and one end portion of said tubular member.

5. An attachment for a writing implement comprising in assembly a thin metallic plate in the form of a stamping and a sleeve of yieldable material, said plate being fashioned to include: a fingerpiece segment that may be manually adjusted to the contour of a forefinger; a tubular segment that is split longitudinally of its periphery; and flexible resilient means connecting one end portion of the finger-piece segment and one end portion of the tubular segment; said sleeve being mounted on the tubular segment and retained thereon in consequence of the external diameter of the tubular segment being minutely larger than the internal diameter of the sleeve, and the periphery of said sleeve being skived or beveled along one end thereof to accommodate angular movements of the fingerpiece segment relatively to the tubular segment aforesaid.

6. An attachment for a writing implement comprising in assembly, a thin metallic plate in the form of a stamping and a sleeve of yieldable material, said plate being fashioned to include: a fiugerpiece segment that may be manually adjusted to the contour of a forefinger; a tubular segment that is split longitudinally of its periphery and has formed therein a plurality of apertures; and flexible resilient means connecting one end portion of the fingerpiece segment and one end portion of the tubular segment; said sleeve being mounted on the tubular segment and retained thereon in consequence of the external diameter of the tubular segment being minutely larger than the internal diameter of the sleeve, and the periphery of said sleeve being skived or beveled along one end thereof to accommodate angular movements of the fingerpiece segment relatively to the tubular segment aforesaid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,607,775 Murray et al. Nov. 23, 1926 2,184,130 Tizio Dec. 19, 1939 2,273,044 Johnson Feb. 17, 1942 

